The Biggest A24 Movies Ever at the Box Office May Surprise You

As a seasoned movie critic with decades of experience under my belt, I have seen the film industry evolve in ways unimaginable. Yet, none has been as fascinating as the meteoric rise of A24 Films. While it may be easy to pigeonhole this indie label as the go-to studio for horror films, a closer look at its diverse library paints a different picture.

Mention the name A24 to someone, and they’ll likely think of horror movies first. This independent studio has swiftly gained a reputation for successful titles such as “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” and “The Witch.” To such an extent that “A24 horror” is now commonly used to denote a unique style of terrifying cinema. It’s challenging to envision a similar phrase becoming popular for Columbia horror or Lionsgate action films. Nonetheless, it’s essential to note that A24 isn’t exclusively recognized for horror movies like “Heretic.” Instead, they have also produced a diverse range of critically acclaimed films across various genres.

Over its lifetime, A24 has funded and distributed a broad range of films, including titles like “Barely Lethal” and “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” among others. To fully grasp the variety in A24’s film collection, consider the studio’s top four highest-grossing movies domestically. The selection of films in that group might come as a surprise.

As a devoted fan, it’s hardly shocking that “Everything Everywhere All at Once” holds the crown among A24’s domestic releases. In March 2022, this extraordinary film surpassed all predictions, amassing an impressive $78 million domestically. Notably, it became the second Best Picture Oscar winner and the first A24 title to break the $60 million mark in the U.S. This remarkable achievement by director Daniels significantly shaped A24’s trajectory. The film’s success redefined the heights of box office success this indie distributor could attain. To this day, no other A24 movie has come close to matching its staggering domestic earnings.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that no other A24 film has come close to matching the box office success of “Civil War” in terms of domestic earnings, with its impressive total of $68 million. At first glance, this gritty and relevant portrayal of a dystopian America might not appear to be a movie people would spend money on. However, A24 cleverly marketed “Civil War” relentlessly, emphasizing the action-packed spectacle it offered. There was also an air of urgency around this film, as if watching it was essential to staying in the loop with current conversations. These factors combined to make “Civil War” a hit for A24 and the studio’s first film to top a domestic box office weekend. With this project, A24 transitioned from producing counter-programming to creating genuine tentpole blockbusters.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d like to share that among A24’s films, it’s only second to “Uncut Gems” that managed to surpass the $50 million mark domestically. Released in December 2019, this captivating Adam Sandler production truly stole the show. Despite being overlooked by the Oscars, the general audience couldn’t get enough of it. In a unique twist, “Uncut Gems” thrived as an edgy alternative to the more family-friendly films that hit theaters in the last weeks of 2019. By the time the curtain fell, it had grossed an impressive $51 million in North America. This wasn’t just a fleeting victory for A24; “Uncut Gems” outshone costlier Sandler comedies from earlier in the decade like “That’s My Boy” and “Blended” in terms of domestic earnings. Sometimes, an exceptional arthouse film can leave its mainstream counterparts far behind.

To put it simply, Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” became the fourth highest-grossing film for A24 in the U.S., earning a significant sum of $48.8 million during its run. Before making “Barbie” a pop culture sensation, Gerwig stirred emotions worldwide with this heartfelt coming-of-age tale. The powerful combination of Saoirse Ronan’s exceptional performance and Gerwig’s emotionally resonant filmmaking contributed to the movie’s box office success. Notably, “Lady Bird” was released in November 2017, more than five years after A24 was established, making it the first A24 title to surpass $30 million domestically. Gerwig’s financial success with “Lady Bird” was just the beginning.

Directly below “Lady Bird,” A24’s highest-grossing horror movie, “Talk to Me,” has earned an impressive $48.2 million domestically due to strong word of mouth. In sixth place is another horror title, “Hereditary.” Interestingly, the rest of A24’s top ten highest-grossing domestic films aren’t solely horror movies. Instead, films like “The Iron Claw” and “Moonlight” are part of A24’s top ten. The romantic drama “We Live in Time” is expected to join this elite group soon during its North American run. These films may not be the ones that immediately come to mind when people think of A24.

Although popular horror movies like “The VVitch” and “Pearl” may not rank among A24’s top ten highest-grossing domestic films, this doesn’t diminish their box office success or the passionate fan bases they’ve built. Their positions on A24’s box office charts reflect the company’s strategic approach to distribution, which involves releasing more than a dozen movies each year. Since A24 has such a rich pipeline of new releases, not every film they put out is a horror movie. In fact, horror titles often make up a small portion of their annual lineup, which also includes films like “The Zone of Interest” and “Janet Planet”.

It’s noteworthy to mention that among A24’s largest domestic films, the two highest-grossing ones were released within the past three years. When the film “We Live in Time” joins A24’s top ten list, it will be the case that half of their top ten domestic hits have been released since January 2023. This indicates a significant growth spurt for A24 as a studio, with aspirations extending far beyond local art houses. Simply glance at A24’s trajectory this year, where they are poised to surpass $200 million in annual revenue for the first time, or their substantial investment in upcoming productions like “Marty Supreme.

A24’s top-grossing domestic films demonstrate that this independent studio is about so much more than just horror movies. They hint at lofty aspirations to broaden the horizons of what constitutes an “A24 film,” especially in terms of scale.

2024-11-29 00:09

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